Another stalling Laser thread - GF's 1986 KC 1.3L carb

[RRM]

Hi from New Zealand y'all;

As per the title am having issues with a low-k's 1986 1.3L manual Laser that every once in a while decides to throw its toys.

Symptoms are the engine dies without warning, usually when in 1st or 2nd gear accelerating away from (or thru) an intersection. There is no smoke, no rough running and no fuel smells, so it feels electrical - like a switch has been thrown and there is suddenly just no power. My Triumph did something similar once and it was a loose wire on the low-voltage side of the ignition circuit.

I usually can't restart the car straight away, the starter cranks but the engine does not fire. But she usually does restart after switching it all off and waiting 30 seconds. But the problem often re-occurs immediately as I pull away again.

Car will often run perfectly for weeks, and then out of the blue, one trip to the shops and the problem could occur every 30 seconds / every 100m. you just never know.

It happens more often when I am driving the car... I tend to use more revs, accelerate a bit harder and generally drive faster than GF, this could be significant?

I have seen the "ignition module" mentioned as a prime suspect on these threads and elsewhere - is there a way to diagnose whether it is this and not something else? I understand the ignition module is a black widget that lives in the dizzy and costs about $130. (My old Triumph has points and a condenser, worth about $15 each. That's progress!)

Any other advice would be gratefully appreciated!

The laser looks like an absolute bucket, but it's been a great functional little car for $1000. Goes round corners well too. I'd be sad to see it go.

[RRM]

Bump...

[huggiebear]

sounds a bit like coil. they like to do funny things like that at times. swap one from a wrecker and see if it fix's the problem, if it does then save for a new one but will allow you to take your time as a second hand one should last a while if good condition

[RRM]

Thanks Huggiebear, will have to take a look at the coil.

(We're not in such dire straits as to have to save up for a new coil, but you know how it is when you "just buy a new xx, in case it's xx", and then "just buy a new yy, in case it's yy" and before you know it you've spent $600 and still not getting anywhere! )

[huggiebear]

exactly, thats why i do as i suggested, i go take one from a wreck then if it works save for a new one. atleast if the new one breaks you will know you still have that old one in the shed to get you moving again.